NORTHERN HONSHU AFTER THE EMISHI
The remote region continued to play an influential role in Japan's power struggles, arts and religion for many years
The story of northern Honshu as a semi-autonomous region not quite adhering to the rules of the rest of Japan continued well past Minamoto no Yoritomo’s conquest of the Northern Fujiwara lands. Yoritomo stationed the Isawa family at Fort Taga, appointing it to the office of Mutsu Caretaker (Oshu Rusushoku), with considerable local autonomy.
The posting of local representatives with semi-autonomous authority continued under the succeeding Ashikaga shogunate (1336-1573), with the posting of tandai, or commissioners. Finally, in the Warring States era, the House of Date made itself into the region’s political centre of gravity during the rule of its most renowned daimyo, Date Masamune (1567-1636). Masamune was like the Northern Fujiwara a patron of the arts and religion, and it’s thanks to his and his descendants’ efforts that many of the temples and other historic locations of the Northern Fujiwara survive to the present.
In his correspondence with European heads of state, Masamune called himself “King of Oshu in the Empire of Japan” – that is, King of Mutsu, the former Michinoku. And two centuries later, his descendants led the domains of northern Honshu in the Northern Alliance, which fought to defend northern Honshu’s autonomy during the
Boshin War. One can’t help but think that the Northern Fujiwara would be proud.